Rescue Pets of the Day: Sweet Pea and Sammie

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Today’s featured rescue pet story is a great example of the benefit of online adoption services like Adopt-a-Pet.com, Petfinder.com and Pets911.com. Meet Sweet Pea and Sammie, rescued by Care2 member Merri J. and her mom:

“Sweet Pea (on the left) and Sammie (on the right) are a mother and son that my parents and I rescued. Sweet Pea is a beautiful dapple black and tan longhair dachshund, and Sammie is a handsome black and tan curly longhaired dachshund. Their story actually begins before Sammie was born.

My family has always had Dachshunds, and my first doxie, Sid, a black and tan shorthair passed away very unexpectedly over Labor Day weekend in 2007. I knew that it would take some time to recover from his passing, and that his sister Sadie (a rescued American Foxhound) and I would need some time to grieve.

Well, by Christmas, I knew that Sadie needed a friend, ASAP! I began searching on PetFinder for a Dachshund puppy. I decided that I wanted to have another boy and it had to be black and tan, but I needed a puppy that was distinguishable from Sid, so I started looking at longhairs.

I knew it was going to be tough to find a dachshund puppy for adoption, they are adopted so quickly, but low and behold, one day in early January I found the perfect little guy and he was still available! He was 6 weeks old, and had been turned over to All American Dachshund Rescue (AADR) with his momma, brother and two sisters at two days old (they were born on Thanksgiving Day)!

Because I had already been vetted by a Dachshund Rescue organization, I was approved by AADR within two days! The only issue was, he was being fostered in Louisiana, and I live in North Carolina; but the wonderful folks at AADR, within two weeks, were able to round up a group of volunteers to help transport little Sammie up to Atlanta, Georgia, where my Dad and I were able to drive down to meet them. After 13 hours on the road, little Sammie and I were together and at home at last!

While Dad and I were on the road, my Mom was online checking out Sammie’s momma, Sweet Pea, who hadn’t yet been adopted. That night, my Mom stayed up late with Sadie (who wanted nothing to do with the little squirt who was now invading her territory) putting in an application to adopt Sweet Pea, and very shortly she was approved as well. Sweet Pea was being fostered in Tennessee, but again AADR was able to gather up a group of volunteers to transport her to meet my parents in February.

Now, the big question was, after several months being separated, would Sweet Pea remember her little (or I should say “BIG”) boy? I have videotaped evidence – they absolutely 100% recognized each other! They love to play and play and play! And even though at two years old, Sammie is now twice Sweet Pea’s size, she is still “THE MOMMA” and puts him on his back in no time. I couldn’t have asked for a better match for both myself and my parents! Oh, and even Sadie likes the little guy now too. I have videotaped evidence of her playing with Sammie for the first time, three days after I brought Sammie home, they’ve been best buds ever since.

I rescued my dog an hour before she was to be euthanized from the shelter where I volunteer and she is the best dog and friend ever. I also fostered a litter of kitties for a crowded shelter and kept the runt of the litter and he is the best. I also adopted another kitty from a foster volunteer who was fostering for the shelter where I volunteer. I would never buy from a breeder.

All my pets are rescues--they are my family and best buds---I can't imagine life without them--they have brought a new dimension to my love of animals and have made me a better human being. It has made me passionate about stopping ALL cruelty to animals by signing petitions, being an activist and by being an advocate for animals in any way I can. I am a vegetarian and would encourage people who have room in their lives to go to a shelter or rescue to see the many wonderful and deserving animals that would enhance and make your life more loving and fulfilled. I can't say enough about how wonderful rescue animals are and by saving a beautiful little soul of an animal you are helping to spread the word.

All of my pets (over 40 years)were either given to us by family member, or adopted us LOL, from shelter. They have all been part of our family for life. I really do not understand getting a pet form a breeder or pet shop when there are so many wonderful animals that need loving homes. I believe all creatures are our "little cousins" and we should treat them with care.